Jet Pump Assembly

ABSTRACT

A jet pump assembly for facilitating a jet pump to be dissembled and serviced in the field includes a jet pump that is fluidly coupled to a fluid pump for pumping a fluid into a petroleum well at a given pressure. The jet pump includes a nozzle housing, a mixing tube, a diffuser, a crossover body and an outer sleeve. The diffuser threadably engages the crossover body, the outer sleeve threadably engages each of the nozzle housing and the crossover body for assembling the jet pump. In this way the jet pump can be dissembled and serviced, in the field, without special tools or training.

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

(c) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to jet pump devices and more particularly pertains to a new jet pump device for facilitating a jet pump to be dissembled and serviced in the field.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to jet pump devices. The prior art discloses a variety of jet pump designs which each incorporate auxiliary fluid paths therein for accommodating forward flow of fluid and reverse flow of fluid. The prior art additionally includes a variety of check valves for controlling the direction of the flow of fluid. Each example included in the prior art discloses a novel structure for defining the auxiliary fluid paths therein.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a jet pump that is fluidly coupled to a fluid pump for pumping a fluid into a petroleum well at a given pressure. The jet pump includes a nozzle housing, a mixing tube, a diffuser, a crossover body and an outer sleeve. The diffuser threadably engages the crossover body, the outer sleeve threadably engages each of the nozzle housing and the crossover body for assembling the jet pump. In this way the jet pump can be dissembled and serviced, in the field, without special tools or training.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a jet pump assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

(j) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new jet pump device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the jet pump assembly 10 generally comprises a jet pump 12 that is fluidly coupled to a fluid pump for pumping a fluid into a petroleum well at a given pressure. The jet pump 12 may be employed in an oil field in the convention of hydraulic pumping for lifting oil, or other fluids, from the petroleum well. The jet pump 12 includes a seal body 14, a nozzle housing 16, a nozzle spacer 18, a mixing tube 20, a diffuser 22, a crossover body 24 and an outer sleeve 26.

The nozzle housing 16 has a first end 28, a second end 30 and an outer surface 32 extending therebetween, and the nozzle housing 16 has a nozzle opening 34 extending through the first end 28 and the second end 30. The nozzle opening 34 has a bounding surface 36 and the bounding surface 36 curves inwardly between the first end 28 and the second end 30. The outer surface 32 has a threaded portion 38 that is positioned adjacent to the first end 28. The mixing tube 20 has an upper end 40 and a lower end 42, and the second end 30 of the nozzle housing 16 insertably receives the upper end 40 of the mixing tube 20. Additionally, the nozzle spacer 18 is positioned between the nozzle housing 16 and the mixing tube 20.

The diffuser 22 has a primary end 44, a secondary end 46 and an outside surface 48 extending therebetween, and the outside surface 48 has a threaded portion 50 adjacent to the secondary end 46. The primary end 44 insertably receives the lower end 42 of the mixing tube 20 such that the diffuser 22 is in fluid communication with the nozzle housing 16. The crossover body 24 has a top end 52, a bottom end 54 and an exterior surface 56 extending therebetween, and the exterior surface has a threaded portion 57 adjacent to the bottom end 54. The top end 52 insertably receives the secondary end 46 of the diffuser 22 having the threaded portion 38 of the outside surface 48 of the diffuser 22 threadably engaging the crossover body 24.

A nozzle 58 is positionable in the nozzle housing 16 to pressurize the fluid when the fluid passes through the nozzle 58. The nozzle 58 may be a venturi nozzle that is commonly employed on jet pumps for hydraulic lifting. The nozzle 58 has an output 60 and an outer surface 62. The outer surface 62 of the nozzle 58 conforms to the bounding surface 36 of the nozzle opening 34 in the nozzle housing 16 when the nozzle 58 is positioned in the nozzle opening 34. In this way the output 60 is spaced a fixed distance from the mixing tube 20 when the mixing tube 20 is coupled to the nozzle housing 16.

The outer sleeve 26 threadably engages the threaded portion 38 of the outer surface 32 of the nozzle housing 16. Additionally, the outer sleeve 26 threadably engages the threaded portion 50 of the outside surface 48 of the crossover body 24. In this way the outer sleeve 26 retains the jet pump 12 in an assembled configuration. Additionally, the threaded connection of the outer sleeve 26 and the diffuser 22 facilitates the jet pump 12 to be dissembled and serviced, in the field, with standard hand tools and without any specialized training.

A first gasket 64 is provided and the first gasket 64 is positioned around the nozzle. The first gasket 64 forms a fluid impermeable seal with the nozzle housing 16 when the nozzle is inserted into the nozzle housing 16. The first gasket 64 engages the bounding surface 36 of the nozzle opening 34 in the nozzle housing 16 when the nozzle is positioned in the nozzle housing 16. A second gasket 66 is provided and the second gasket 66 is positioned around the mixing tube 20. The second gasket 66 forms a fluid impermeable seal with the diffuser 22 when the mixing tube 20 is inserted into the diffuser 22.

In use, the jet pump 12 is employed in the oil field in the normal convention of hydraulic lifting of petroleum wells. The threaded couplings of outer sleeve 26 and the diffuser 22 facilitate the jet pump 12 to be dissembled and serviced, in the field, without specialized tools or training. In this way the jet pump 12 enhances efficiency of field operations with respect to hydraulic lifting in petroleum wells. Moreover, the reduced number of gaskets and 0-rings, as compared to existing designs of jet pumps, reduces the likelihood of mechanical failure in the field.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A jet pump assembly having threaded components wherein said assembly is configured to be disassembled and serviced without special tools or training, said assembly comprising: a jet pump being fluidly coupled to a fluid pump for pumping a fluid into a petroleum well at a given pressure, said jet pump including a seal body, a nozzle housing, a nozzle spacer, a mixing tube, a diffuser, a crossover body and an outer sleeve, said diffuser threadably engaging said crossover body, said outer sleeve threadably engaging said nozzle housing and said crossover body for assembling said jet pump; a nozzle being positionable in said nozzle housing wherein said nozzle is configured to pressurize the fluid when the fluid passes through said nozzle; a first gasket being positioned around said nozzle, said first gasket forming a fluid impermeable seal with said nozzle housing when said nozzle is inserted into said nozzle housing; and a second gasket being positioned around said mixing tube, said second gasket forming a fluid impermeable seal with said diffuser when said mixing tube is inserted into said diffuser.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle housing has a first end, a second end and an outer surface extending therebetween, said nozzle housing having a nozzle opening extending through said first end and said second end, said nozzle opening having a bounding surface, said bounding surface curving inwardly between said first end and said second end.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said outer surface has a threaded portion being positioned adjacent to said first end.
 4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said mixing tube has an upper end and a lower end, said second end of said nozzle housing insertably receiving said upper end of said mixing tube having said nozzle spacer being positioned between said nozzle housing and said mixing tube.
 5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said diffuser has a primary end, a secondary end and an outside surface extending therebetween, said outside surface having a threaded portion adjacent to said secondary end, said primary end insertably receiving said lower end of said mixing tube such that said diffuser is in fluid communication with said nozzle housing.
 6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said crossover body having a top end, a bottom end and an exterior surface extending therebetween, said top end insertably receiving said secondary end of said diffuser having said threaded portion of said outside surface of said diffuser threadably engaging said crossover body.
 7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein said outer sleeve threadably engages said threaded portion of said outer surface of said nozzle housing, said outer sleeve threadably engaging said threaded portion of said outside surface of said crossover body.
 8. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said nozzle has an output and an outer surface, said outer surface of said nozzle conforming to said bounding surface of said nozzle opening in said nozzle housing when said nozzle is positioned in said nozzle opening, said output being spaced a fixed distance from said mixing tube when said mixing tube is coupled to said nozzle housing.
 9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said first gasket engages said bounding surface of said nozzle opening in said nozzle housing when said nozzle is positioned in said nozzle housing.
 10. A jet pump assembly having threaded components wherein said assembly is configured to be disassembled and serviced without special tools or training, said assembly comprising: a jet pump being fluidly coupled to a fluid pump for pumping a fluid into a petroleum well at a given pressure, said jet pump including a seal body, a nozzle housing, a nozzle spacer, a mixing tube, a diffuser, a crossover body and an outer sleeve, said nozzle housing having a first end, a second end and an outer surface extending therebetween, said nozzle housing having a nozzle opening extending through said first end and said second end, said nozzle opening having a bounding surface, said bounding surface curving inwardly between said first end and said second end, said outer surface having a threaded portion being positioned adjacent to said first end, said mixing tube having an upper end and a lower end, said second end of said nozzle housing insertably receiving said upper end of said mixing tube having said nozzle spacer being positioned between said nozzle housing and said mixing tube, said diffuser having a primary end, a secondary end and an outside surface extending therebetween, said outside surface having a threaded portion adjacent to said secondary end, said primary end insertably receiving said lower end of said mixing tube such that said diffuser is in fluid communication with said nozzle housing, said crossover body having a top end, a bottom end and an exterior surface extending therebetween, said top end insertably receiving said secondary end of said diffuser having said threaded portion of said outside surface of said diffuser threadably engaging said crossover body; a nozzle being positionable in said nozzle housing wherein said nozzle is configured to pressurize the fluid when the fluid passes through said nozzle, said nozzle having an output and an outer surface, said outer surface of said nozzle conforming to said bounding surface of said nozzle opening in said nozzle housing when said nozzle is positioned in said nozzle opening, said output being spaced a fixed distance from said mixing tube when said mixing tube is coupled to said nozzle housing, said outer sleeve threadably engaging said threaded portion of said outer surface of said nozzle housing, said outer sleeve threadably engaging said threaded portion of said outside surface of said crossover body; a first gasket being positioned around said nozzle, said first gasket forming a fluid impermeable seal with said nozzle housing when said nozzle is inserted into said nozzle housing, said first gasket engaging said bounding surface of said nozzle opening in said nozzle housing when said nozzle is positioned in said nozzle housing; and a second gasket being positioned around said mixing tube, said second gasket forming a fluid impermeable seal with said diffuser when said mixing tube is inserted into said diffuser. 